Lilac plant named ‘GARlisabzar’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of lilac plant having an upright, compact, dense and rounded plant habit, dark colored buds compared to flowers, and having a very strong lilac scent, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Syringa hybrida.

Denomination: ‘GARlisabzar’.

BACKGROUND

‘GARlisabzar’ is a new and distinct variety of lilac. ‘GARlisabzar’originated from a controlled cross in May 2008 in Tipp City, Ohiobetween the commercial female parent ‘Josee’ (unpatented), and thecommercial male parent, ‘Bailsugar’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,588).

The resulting seeds from the cross were collected and planted in TippCity, Ohio. ‘GARlisabzar’ was selected in May 2012 from the populationof seedlings in Tipp City, Ohio. ‘GARlisabzar’ was first asexuallypropagated in May 2013 in Tipp City, Ohio from two-node softwoodcuttings rooted under mist at 25 to 27 degrees Celsius.

Other subsequent asexual propagations were conducted in controlledenvironments in Tipp City, Ohio and demonstrate that ‘GARlisabzar’reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexualreproduction via softwood cuttings, tissue culture, andmirco-propagation.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Tipp City, Ohio.

-   -   1. An upright, compact, dense and rounded plant habit;    -   2. Dark colored buds compared to flowers; and    -   3. Having a very strong lilac scent.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new lilac plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, andflowers. The photographs are of a 4-year old plant grown outdoors inTipp City, Ohio. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonablyobtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit of a single bush of ‘GARlisabzar’.

FIG. 2 shows the overall plant habit of a row of bushes of‘GARlisabzar’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the individual flowers, buds, foliage, andbark of the plant.

FIG. 4 shows a greater close-up of the individual flowers and buds ofthe plant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘GARlisabzar’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected outdoors in Tipp City, Ohio in May 2015from a 4-year-old plant. The phenotype of this new variety will varysomewhat with variation in environmental, climatic, and culturalconditions as it has not been tested in other environments. Colorreferences are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal HorticulturalSociety of London (R.H.S.) 2001.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Oleaceae.        -   Species.—Syringa hybrida.        -   Common name.—Lilac.        -   Variety.—‘GARlisabzar’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘Josee’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—‘Bailsugar’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,588).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Softwood cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—In the summer, 18 to 21 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—In the summer, 12 to            16 weeks.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Well-branched and dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Upright, compact, rounded and            dense.        -   Branching habit.—Well-branched.        -   Plant height.—90 cm to 110 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—75 cm to 90 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Habit and number per plant.—Very freely branching; ranging            from about 11 to 14.        -   Length.—15 cm to 20 cm.        -   Diameter.—2 mm to 3 mm.        -   Internode length.—3.5 cm to 4.0 cm.        -   Aspect.—Straight.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture, immature.—Finely pubescent.        -   Texture, mature.—Finely pubescent.        -   Color, immature.—RHS 166A.        -   Color, mature.—RHS N200B.-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—2.5 cm.        -   Width.—2.0 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic-ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Smooth            mid-rib vein prominent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B. Lower surface: RHS            138B.        -   Immature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 137C. Lower surface:            RHS 146D.        -   Mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B. Lower surface:            RHS 138B.        -   Petioles.—Length: 8.0 mm to 9.0 mm. Diameter: 1.0 mm. Color:            RHS 183A. Texture: Smooth.-   Flower:    -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Single, salverform,            dense, packed in panicles of up to 350 flowers.        -   Natural flowering season and flower longevity.—Mid-spring, 2            to 3 weeks depending on weather.        -   Fragrance.—Very strong lilac scent.        -   Inflorescence height.—Average is 10.0 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—Average is 8.0 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—5.0 mm.        -   Flower length.—12.0 mm to 13.0 mm.        -   Flower buds.—3.0 mm in diameter, 10.0 mm to 11.0 mm long.        -   Flower bud shape.—Obovate.        -   Flower bud color.—RHS 37A.        -   Flower bud texture.—Thick.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity.—Tubular with 4 petal lobes.        -   Lobe length.—3.0 mm.        -   Lobe width.—2.0 mm.        -   Lobe shape.—Funnelform.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Lower surface:            Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 73D with RHS 69C to RHS 69D edges.            Lower surface: RHS 67A.        -   Flower tube.—Length: 8.0 mm to 9.0 mm. Diameter: 1.0 mm.            Texture: Smooth. Color: Inner surface is RHS 67B and outer            surface is RHS 67A.        -   Flower throat.—Diameter: 2.0 mm to 2.3 mm. Texture: Smooth.            Color: RHS 67A.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity and appearance.—There are four very small and            inconspicuous sepals that are about 1.0 mm by 1.0 mm in            size.        -   Length.—0.8 mm.        -   Width.—0.7 mm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Color (both upper and lower surfaces).—RHS 183A.-   Peduncles:    -   -   Length.—7.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—4.0 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.        -   Aspect.—Straight.        -   Texture.—Smooth, finely glabrous.        -   Color.—RHS N200B.-   Pedicels:    -   -   Length.—2.0 mm to 3.0 mm.        -   Diameter.—1.0 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Straight.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—RHS N187A.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Quantity of stamens per flower: 2. Anther shape:            Oblong. Anther length: 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm. Anther color: RHS            79C to RHS 79D. Amount of pollen: Little to none. Pollen            color: RHS 166D.        -   Gyneocium.—Quantity of pistils per flower: 1. Pistil Length:            3.0 mm. Style length: 1.0 mm. Style color: RHS N155D. Stigma            color: RHS N155B. Stigma shape: Rounded. Ovary color: RHS            N155D.-   Fruit and seed set: None observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: Resistant to lilac powdery mildew    Erysiphe syringae (formerly Microsphaera syringae and Phyllactinia    syringae).

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL LINES

Table 1 shows a comparison of differences between ‘GARlisabzar’ and bothparental lines.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female parent Male parentCharacteristic ‘GARlisabzar’ ‘Josee’ ‘Bailsugar’ Plant height 90 cm to180 cm 100 cm 110 cm Plant diameter 75 cm to 150 cm 90 cm 90 cm Flowercolor, RHS 73D with RHS 69A RHS 70C upper surface RHS 69C to RHS 69Dedges

Table 2 shows a comparison of the differences between ‘GARlisabzar’ andthe commercial Lilac variety ‘Penda’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,575).

TABLE 2 Comparison with Commercial Lines Characteristic ‘GARlisabzar’‘Penda’ Flower color, RHS 73D with RHS 77B upper surface RHS 69C to RHS69D edges Flower color, RHS 67A RHS 77A lower surface Plant height 90 cmto 110 cm 100 cm Plant diameter 75 cm to 90 cm 150 cm

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of lilac plant designated‘GARlisabzar’ as illustrated and described herein.